Social Ministry and Its Effects on Evangelistic Preaching

Abstract

Social issues present an opportunity for Christians to perform social ministry to persons beset by the consequences of sin—whether caused by their own doing or their social surroundings. Social ministry can beneficially undergird evangelism and evangelistic preaching when the social ministry is conducted in the proper manner. This article will discuss the effects of social ministry on evangelistic preaching. The first part will define social ministry and how it contrasts with social action. The scope of this article will focus on social ministry while mentioning social action as a separate function whose aims are distinct from social ministry. The second part of this article will present the application of social ministry in the evangelistic enterprise. This section will discuss some of the biblical principles behind social ministries and how it affects evangelism in positive and negative ways. The last part of this article will discuss some theological and practical issues that affect evangelistic preaching.